Safety switch-throwing device.



F. WARZECHA.

SAFETY SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1911.

Patented 05 30, 12m.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

mwm

F. WARZECHA.

SAFETY SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1911.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANCISZEK "WARZECHA, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY SWII' CI-I-THROWING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 3%, 1917.

Application filed July 5, 1917. I Serial No. 178,684.

To aZZ "whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, FRANCISZEK lVAn- ;rcrni, subject of the Emperor of Austria, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Switch-Throwing Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to'certain new and useful improvements in safety switch throwing devices.

The primary object of thepresent invention is the provision of a system of tracks arranged at the intersection of railway lines whereby an oncoming train in either or the four directions automatically operates siding switches for the opposite perpendicularly arr; nged track portions whereby any collisions from trains approaching from the side are entirely prevented.

A further object of the device is the provision of a safety means in connection with intersecting railway tracks whereby trains upon either of the lateral tracks with respect to any of the tracks of the system will be automatically sidetracked for permitting them to be brought to a standstill and there by preventing accidents by reason of collisions from trains approaching e: ch other at right angles.

a still further object is the provision of an automatic switch throwing device tor intersecting lines of railway tracks which is easy and lHtBXPEHSlVG to install and which possesses great strength and only a few parts, the structure being not liable to get. out of repair and being positive in its operation.

in the drawings, termin a partof this application, like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of intersecting railway lines provided with the presentdevice.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sectional views taken upon lines II-II Ill--ll1, and lV-IV, respectively of Fig, 1..

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the trip members detached, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the switch tongues employed with each track and the shifting means therefor.

Many accidents have occurred at intersecting railway tracks by the train upon one of the tracks colliding with a train upon the other track, for such causes for instance, as the absence of signals to denote which train has the right of way and will first proceed over the intersecting point. The present device as herein illustrated, is arranged in connection with two straight lines of track, A, B and C, D ..intersecting each other at right angles at a central point E, the said tracks being provided with the present arrangement for preventing trains coming in either direction upon the track C, D from meeting at the point E any trains coming in either direction upon the track A,B or vice versa.

A curved side track 10 is provided for the straight track 0. a similar curved side track 11, 1'2 and 13 being arranged for the straight tracks B, D and A respectively. A pair of switch blades or tongues 14 are provided for each of the connections between the side tracks and the straight tracks, whereby trains which are approaching the intersection E upon any of the tracks A, B, C or D may be caused to travel laterally upon the corresponding side tracks 13, 11, 1.0. and 12 respectively.

A connecting plate 15 is provided pivotally attached beneath each pair of switch tongues 14- which are provided for the separate switches hereinbefore described, the said plates 15 being operatively connected to trip bars 16 resiliently mounted operatively at opposite sides of each of the straightaway track sections outwardly or slightly removed down the track from each of the switch operating connectors 15.

The trip bars 16 are provided with depending posts 17 vertically shiftably arranged within sockets or cups 18 adjacent the respective tracks and elevating sprin s 19 are arranged within the sockets 18 with the post 17 mounted thereon and whereby the bars 16 are normally maintained elevated. The depressible trip bars 16 which are arranged at opposite sides of the track B are operatively attached to the connector plates 15 of the switches or sidings 10 and 12 of the tracks C and D respectively by means ofrods 20 pivoted to the adjacent ends of the said connectors 15 while oppositely mounted angle levers 21 and 22 are attached to the rods 20 and have their opposite ends connected to rockers 23 by means of links 24, the said rockers '23 having arms 25 normally elevated beneath the bar '16 when the blades 1% for the sidings l0 and 12 are arranged for permitting free straightaway travel upon the tracks 0 and D.

It will be understood that a train approaching the intersection E upon the track B will depress the trip bars 16 which by means of the connections described, and the angle lever 21 will connect the siding 10 with the track C while the aforesaid connections for the lever 2 will close theswitch tongues 1% for the siding 12 of the track D, the 'movements of the members 20 being illustrated by arrows in F 1 of the drawing. The track A is provided with similar mechanism for bringing the sidings 10 and 172 into communication with the tracks C and respectively when a train is approaching the intersection E upon the track A. By this arrangement it will be seen that in the event of trains approaching the intersection E upon either of the tracks (I or D they will be prevented from colliding with trains approaching in either direction'upon the tracks A and B by the above described automatic manner of s *itching the trains upon the tracks C and D onto the respective sidings 10 and 12 with which the tracks D and (l are provided.

In a. similar manner, the tracks 0 and D are each arranged with a pair of the said trip bars 16 having the same manner of connections with the switch blades 1% of the side tracks 11 and 13 of the track sections B and A respectively. The angle levers 21 being oppositely positioned from the levers '22 insures the movements of the switch blades 14: for connecting the proper sidings with their respective straight line track section. Any train approaching the intersection upon the tracks C and Dwill automatically throw the proper switches for directing the travel of any trains upon the tracks A. and B onto their respective sidings 13 and 11.

A serviceable safety appliance is pro vided which automatically prevents the collision of trains moving perpendicularly with respect to each other upon intersecting lines of track.

lVhat I claim as new is 1. A safety switch device for intersecting tracks comprising sidings for each of the tracks, movable switch members between each siding and track and operating means for said switch members whereby the switch members upon the straight lines of track are adapted for automatic actuation during the approach of a train-upon either track positioned at right angles thereto.

2'. .A safety appliance comprising in combination with intersecting tracks, sidings connecting each section of said tracks outwardly ot the intersectionthereof shiftable switch members for each siding and track, depressible trips arranged adjacent each of said tracks at points beyond the'respective sidings thereof and operative connections between the said trips and switch members whereby a depressing of the trips of any of the track sections during the passing of a train thereover automatically closes the switch members between the sidingsand the straight track sections which are positioned at right angles respecting the track provided with the trips so depressed.

3. A safety appliance for intersecting railway tracks comprising in combination with intersecting straight lines of tracks a lateral siding for each line of track, 0perable switch connections between each siding and track and automatic actuating means for said switch connections whereby the sidings are connected to the main track of thoselines lying at right angles with respect to the line upon which a train is approaching.

l. A safety appliance for intersecting railway tracks comprising in combination with two tracks angular-1y arranged, a siding for one of said'tracks, shiftable switch tongues for said siding, a normally elevated depressible trip operatively arranged adjacent the other track, a rocker arranged beneath said trip, a pivoted angle lever and operative connections between the said le ver and rocker and between the said lever switch tongues whereby a depressing of said trip is adapted for automaticallyshitting the said tongues whereby said siding is opened for travel from the track with which the siding is provided.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

FRANCISZEK i a-inznona.

copies or this'natent maybe obtained for five'cents each, by adfiressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

